Are Large Language Models the Steam Engine of My Time? And, if so, am I the John Henry of this tale?
If you've heard the folk tale of John Henry, you know the story: a steel-driving man who raced against a steam-powered hammer to prove human worth and dignity. He won the race but died with his hammer in his hand. It's a powerful allegory about technological change, human pride, and the cost of resistance.
Today, as AI coding assistants become ubiquitous in software development, many developers feel like they're staring down their own steam-powered hammer. The anxiety is real—will AI replace us? Should we resist? Are we racing toward obsolescence?
But here's what the John Henry story often obscures: the steam engine didn't eliminate workers; it transformed work itself. The railroad industry exploded after mechanization. More tunnels were built, more tracks laid, more infrastructure created…
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